online identity week 3 lab

 Reflecting on my online identity 🙀

1. Googling myself

How many of the first 10 hits are links to pages about you (rather than people with the same name)?

> Zero.

If none, how many search pages do you have to go through to find one about you? (link at the bottom under Goooooooooogle)

> After going through eight or more pages after typing my full name, just my first name, or my name without my surname I found nothing about me.

Why do you think were there so many or so few hits about you?

> My name is uncommon, and all my social media pages are private, do not use my name, or have a minuscule following.

Would you prefer to have more or less hits, and why?

> I would prefer it stays this way, as I feel protected from the unpredictability of the Internet.

What might the benefits of having lots of hits on Google be in the future?

> It would be easier for people to find you, which can be beneficial to some who might want to be well-known, or someone who is accomplished in their field. People who appear on Google could have contributed (positively) enough to society to be known for what they've done.

What potential downsides are there to having many hits on Google?

> It is easier for people to dig up information that is personal, that you would rather people not know. These things could influence future employers' decisions, and your private as well as professional life.

Explain why your Google-presence may help or hinder you getting a job after your degree.

> Depending on how open you are on the Internet about your personal life, light could be shed on your actions that could be seen as great or not so great, winning a math or robotics competition and having an article about your victory could be beneficial; having controversial or borderline offensive tweets appear from your Twitter page would not be.

(Have you thought about setting up a Google Alert so you receive e-mails whenever Google finds something new listed under your name?)

> I did not know such a feature existed, but perhaps now I will consider it. Even though I have little presence on the Internet, anything could happen, and I'd like to be aware of it fast enough to have control over the impact of the information released. 

2. Other Qs (I don't have Facebook)

What are the differences between a Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profile? How do people use them for different purposes?

> People tend to use Facebook to connect with people they know in real life such as family, friends, or co-workers; they post updates about their lives and share special moments for others to see. It is deeply personal, but rather curated.

 

Twitter can be used in the same way Facebook is, however it is more common for there to be less family connected to/knowing about the account, and it is more common for people to add others that they only know online rather than in real life. It is deeply personal as people tend to be more unfiltered on Twitter, and not much personal information has to be on your profile, unlike Facebook. The things posted on Twitter are often more trivial, maybe more nonsensical, and probably more vulnerable/sensitive, than what is posted on Facebook, though this of course varies from person to person, and age group to age group. 

 

 LinkedIn is used more professionally and a lot less personally, and it is used to showcase work experience, work skills etc. Most people connected on LinkedIn are co-workers. Most young people do not use LinkedIn.

How would you respond if a potential employer asked for the password to your social media account (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), and why? What about if they asked for your e-mail password?

> I think that is an invasion of my privacy. If they would like to view my profiles on various platforms, they can do so without having full access to my accounts. What cannot be seen without having access to the accounts, such as direct messages and archived content, has no valid reason to be reviewed by my employer, and has nothing to do with my work life. My e-mail is also not for anyone but myself to view and there is again no reason that my employer should want to view my e-mails.

What impact on your digital identity does writing a blog post have?

> Considering this uses my name, it may appear on Google. However the information on this blog post is not too serious nor personal, and I don't mind having this much shared online. 

Why do some bloggers choose to remain anonymous?

> They may want their online persona to remain separate from the real them, which I think is reasonable, as again, the Internet is unpredictable and can misinterpret things easily. To avoid unnecessary drama, it is a good idea to remain anonymous. It is anyone's own right.

If you were asked to enhance your digital identity right now, what would you do and why?

> I probably wouldn't unless it is for something that would look good for my future; something like an academic achievement, volunteer work, or participation in university events. Otherwise it's not something I desire, and I've no reason to enhance my digital identity.